Centrifugal casting machine



Qct. 9,1951 DALTON 2,570,325

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Fi led Feb. 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 48 U. I 22 4o 5| 54 49 55 64 65 1 es 6 6| 2o INVENTOR.

LESTER FRANK DALTON BY fix/Wax ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1951 DALTON 2,570,325

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 20, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 POWER SUPPLY 48 l I I 89 0 ."P ".';'n 49 TIMER A 5| 54 56 a3 55 WAY ELEG OPERATED VALVE 8| =5 :5 85 E: 82? PRESSURE INVENTOR.

LESTER FRANK DALTON BY jog/{4x IYTTOFIYEIKS Patented Oct. 9, 1951 OFFICE 2,570,325 CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE Lester Frank Dalton, Torrancecalif. Application February 20, 1948, Serial No. 9,721

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the method and apparatus for, making centrifugal castings.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for simultaneously pouring molten material into a spinning mold while the casting is being stripped from a similar mold previously formed, the molds both being supported on a rotatable carrier.

Another object is to provide a device for making centrifugal castings including a rotatable carrier supporting,- a plurality of circumferentially spaced molds. mounted for individual rotation on'the carrier, :the device including means for spinning one of the molds while molten material is being poured into' it, and the device also including means for stripping the casting from a. previously poured mold. 1

Another object is to provide a device of this type in which the carrier may be revolved to bring each mold sequentially into pouring position, the molds remaining on the carrier throughout the cycle of operation.

A more specific object is to provide a device of this type having latching means for maintaining the carrier in selected position and indexing means for revolving the carrier to bring each of the molds sequentially into pouring position.

tures 26 through which each of the molds is adapted to project. As shown clearly in Figures 3 and 4, brackets 21 are adjustably mounted on the disks II and I2 by means of the pivot, bolts 28 and securing bolts 29, the latter passing through arcuate slots 30 provided in the brackets 21. A roller 3| is rotatably mounted on each of the brac:ets 21 and is adapted to engage the outer periphery of one of the cylindrical molds. The purpose of the adjustable mounting of the brackets 21 is to accommodate cylindrical molds of various diameters. Spacer blocks 32 may be provided if desired and positioned between the Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation in diagrammatical form showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof taken in the direction of the lines 2-2 as shown in Figure 1, the spinning motor being omitted.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional elevation taken subsgantially on the line 3-3 as shown in Fi ure Figure 4 is a partial sectional detail taken sub stantially on the lines 4--4 as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the hydraulic connections between the actuating cylinders and the electrical connections between the various switches and the electrically operated valves.

Figures 6 and 7 are partial sectional views showing details of the latching and indexing mechanism for the carrier, Figure 7 being taken on the line 1-1 as shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the carrier generally designated 10 may comprise a pair of axially spaced disks H and I2 connected by a central hub l3 and mounted on a stationary supporting shaft M by means of spaced bearing assemblies rality of uprights l1 joined by cross-members l8 brackets 21 and the rear disk l2. From the above description it will be understood that the carrier I0 is rotatably mounted with respect to the frame I6, and that a series of cylindrical molds 22, 23, 24 and 25 are each individuallymounted for rotation on the carrier ID.

A stationary flange 33 is fixed on the front cross-member l9 and is provided with a central aperture adapted to receive a bushing 34. A thrust bearing assembly 35 is positioned between the bushing 34 and the stationary flange 33. A central opening 36 in the bushing 34 provides a means of access for the pouring spout of a receptacle carrying molten material (not shown). It will be observed that the end 31 of the cylindrical bushing 22 fits against the radial face 38 of the bushing 34. v

A plurality of openings 39 are provided in the disk I 2 adjacent the location of each of the cylindrical molds 22, 23, 24 and 25. A plunger 40 mounted for axial movement and for rotation relative to the frame 16 is provided with a head portion 4| which is adapted to extend through any one of the openings 39. The head portion 41 engages the end 42 of the cylindrical mold and provides a closure therefor, as well as a means of rotating the mold. The plunger 40 may be retracted to bring the head portion 4| out through the opening 39 into an inoperative position when desired and thereby permit the carrier In to be rotated with respect to the frame 16. The plunger 40 is rotatably mounted within axially spaced bearing blocks 43 and 44 supported on the frame 16. A keyway 45 extends axially of the plunger and is adapted to receive a key (not shown) carried in the drive pulley 45 which is slidably mounted relative to the plunger 40. A spinning motor 46 may be mounted on a stationary shelf 41 carried on the frame l6 and is adapted to drive the pulley 45 bymeans of a belt 48.

.Means are provided for axially advancing and retracting the plunger 48, and as shown in the drawings this means includes a power cylinder assembly 49 hereinafter referred to as the holding cylinder. This cylinder 49 is secured on the stationary shelf 28 and is provided with a piston 50 which is reciprocable therein and adapted to actuate the piston rod The piston rod 5| does not rotate and is connected to the rotatable plunger 49 by means of the connecting collar 52 which is fixed to the plunger by means of the set screw 53. Suitable fluid connections 54 and 55 are provided fore and aft of the holding cylinder 49 for moving the piston 58 in either direction. From the above description it will be understood that the plunger 40 together with its head portion 4| may be advanced by means of the holding cylinder 49 to confine the cylindrical mold 22 between the head portion 4| and the rotatable bushing 34. The spinning motor 48 may then turn the plunger 48 independently of the piston rod 5| to cause the mold 22 to spin relative to the mounting rollers 3|.

A power cylinder assembly, hereinafter designated the stripping cylinder 58, is mounted on the frame I6 in alignment with the opening 51 provided in the cross-member IQ of the frame (see Figure 2). The stripping cylinder 56 is provided with a piston rod 58 carrying an enlarged head59. This enlarged head is adapted to be received within the internal bore of the molds and functions to eject the solidified casting when the mold is in alignment with the discharge opening 51. Suitable hydraulic connections 60 and GI are provided on the stripping cylinder for advancing and retracting the piston rod 58 and head 59. The head 59 passes through opening 39 in the disk I2 in order to contact the casting within the mold.

Means are provided for cooling a mold after it has been stripped of its casting, and as shown in the drawings this means includes piping 62 adapted to supply a coolant such as, for example, water under pressure. The coolant is sprayed into the interior of the mold through the nozzle fitting 63. After the mold has been cooled it is essential that all traces of moisture be removed before molten metal is again poured into the mold. Accordingly, a drying device is provided for rem-' ing any coolant remaining on the interior of the mold. .This drying device may take the form of the blower 64 driven from t e motor 65 and provided with a discharge tube 86 which is directed into the opening 81 provided in the cross-member |9.

Releasable lat h means are provided for maintaining the carrier l0 against rotation about the shaft II! when desired. As shown in the drawings, this means .includes a plurality of detents 68 s aced about the periphery of the disk I and adapted to be engaged by the projecting lug 89 carried on the end of the latch lever 10. The latch lever I0 is pivotally supported by the pin II carried on the frame IS. A power cylinder assembly hereinafter designated the indexing cylinder I2 is mounted in an upright position on the frame and provided with a piston rod I3. The piston rod I3 is joined to an upwardly extending actuating rod I4 which is preferably square in cross-section. A trip finger I5 projects laterally from the rod I4, and upon upward movement of the rod I4 is adapted to engage under the latching lever 10 and to cause it to pivot in a direction to withdraw the latching lug 69 from the recess 68. The trip finger I5 is mounted for limited lateral sliding movement relative to the rod I4 and is held in its extended position by means of a compression spring (not shown). When the rod 14 descends, the upp r end of the latch lever I0 strikes the under side of the trip finger I5 which is beveled, and thus causes the trip finger to move back into the rod I4 against the action of the spring and thus enable the trip finger I5 to again take its position below the upper end of the latching lever II. A spring I80 may be secured to the upper end of the latching lever I8, and this spring acts to maintain the latching lug 69 within the detent 88.

Indexing means are provided for rotating the carrier III to bring each mold successively into pouring position. As shown in Figures 6 and '7 this indexing means may include an indexing arm I8 pivotally mounted at spaced points II on the rod I4, so that it may swing through an'arc relative to the rod I4. The projecting end of the arm I8 is adapted to underlie a projecting lug II carried on the disk ll of the carrier I0. When the rod I4 moves upwardly the latching lever I0 is first moved to an inoperative position as described above, then the arm I8 engages the lug I1 and turns the carrier to an arc of 90, at which time the latchinglug 58 on the lever engages the next detent 88. When the rod I4 descends, anangle piece I8 on the forward end of the arm I6 is contacted on its inner side edge by the lug 11, which is then positioned adjacent the latching lever I0. As the rod I4 and arm I6 continue to descend the lug II acting on the angle piece I8 causes the arm I8 to pivot about the rod I4 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 7. This motion is resisted by the compression spring I9 which returns the arm I8 to its operative position as soon as it has dropped below the lug II. The parts are then in position for again indexing the carrier to a new position.

Suitable hydraulic connections 88 and 8| are provided on the indexing cylinder I2 for causing the rod I4 to be extended or retracted as desired. As shown in Figure 5, the hydraulic connections to the various cylinders may be supplied from a common source of fluid pressure 82., The admission of fluid to the various cylinders may be advantageously controlled by means of electrically operated selector valves 83, 84 and 85. These valves preferably have no neutral point, and thus pressure is always supplied to one or the other ends of the particular power cylinder which is controlled. The selector valves may be actuated in any convenient fashion. As shown in the drawings, each of the valves 83, 84 and 85 is electrically connected at one'side to the hot wire 88 of the power supply 88-81. The wire 81 may be grounded. Also connected to the hot wire 88 is the initiating switch 88. When the switch 88 is closed, the spinning motor 46 is energized through a timer 88. The timer may be manually set to open contacts after a predetermined interval of time, for example. 30 seconds, has elapsed. Accordingly, the spinning motor 46 operates for this selected interval of time and then stops. when the motor 48 stops, the switch mechanism 98 grounds one side of the electrically operated selector valve 88, causing the piston 5| to be retracted by the admission of fluid pressure to the line 54. Exhaust from the cylinder occurs through the line 55 and out through the vent 58. When the rod 5| reaches its retracted position it energizes switch 9|, am this acts to ground one side of the selector valve 85, thereby admitting pressure fluid through the y au c. l e 80. The rod I4 accordingly is elevated, and exhaust from the cylinderoccurs through the line 8| andTiut through the vent 92.

When the rod 14 reaches the upper end of its stroke it contacts the switch 93 and thereby grounds each of the valves 83, 84, and 85. Accordingly, the piston rods and 58 are advanced and the piston rod 13 is returned to its retracted position. The stripping cylinder rod 58 moves to the end of its stroke in ejecting the casting from the mold 23 and then contacts the switch 94, which reverses the valve 84 and causes the piston 58 to be returned to its retracted position, the discharge from the cylinder occurring through the line 6| and out through the vent95. This completes one indexing cycle. The cycle is again initiated by closing of the switch 88.

It is to be understood that the various electrical connections and the wiring system shown in Figure 5 are for purposes of diagrammatic illustration only, and that other wiring systems employing relays can be used if desired, so long as the sequence of operations is followed. Moreover, it is recognized that safety switches may be incorporated at critical points so that if the machine does not properlyfunction in any respect an electrical circuit will be broken, thereby de-energizing the movable parts of the device to avoid damage to the machine until the source of trouble can be located and corrected.

In operation, the four molds 22, 23, 26 and 25 are mounted on the carrier l0 and the blower motor 65 is started. The coolant is then directed through the nozzle 63 as a continuous stream. Heated liquid material to be formed into a casting is then poured in through the central opening 36 from a receptacle (not shown). As soon as the material is admitted into the mold 22 the operator (not shown) closes the initiating switch 88 which starts the motor 66 and effects rotationof the plunger 50 and mold 22. The mold then spins for the time interval controlled by the timer 89. During this interval the holding cylinder 49 confines the ends of the mold 22 between the head ll on the plunger 50 and the bushing 38. The molds 23, 24 and 25 remain at rest on the carrier III at the ejecting, cooling and drying positions respectively, as indicated by the opening 51, coolant pipe 62 and blower opening 61. When the pre-set timer 89 stops the spinning motor 46 the holding cylinder withdraws the plunger and head 4| outwardly through the opening 39 within the disk l2. When the plunger reaches its fully retracted position the switch 9| energizes the indexing cylinder valve85 and causes the indexing rod H to move upwardly. Upward movement of the rod H first unlatches the carrier ill by withdrawing the latching lug 69 from the detent 68, as explained more fully above, and then revolves the carrier through one quarter revolution by contact of the lug Tl with tudinally of the mold to expel the solidified casting outwardly through the opening 51 in the frame cross-member U. The casting thus expelled may be-carried away by any suitable form of conveyer (not shown). Upon completion of the stripping operation the piston rod 58 and head 59 are automatically retracted through actuation of the electrical switch 94.-

The mold now in alignment with the opening 36 may be poured and spun in the same manner outlined above. The indexing mechanism turns the carrier through one quarter turn and the casting is ejected by means of the stripping cylinder as described above. Accordingly, each-mold in turn is poured, spun and then indexed to the stripping position where the casting is ejected. Upon the next indexing operation the mold is carried to the cooling position. The'mold is still too hot to be reused since the chilling'eflfect to solidify the casting necessarily results in heatin of the mold by conduction. Accordingly, the mold is then cooled substantially by the spray of coolant emitted from the nozzle .63. It is important to remove all traces of coolant, however, before'the mold is again poured, and accordingly upon the next indexing cycle the mold is subjected to the blast of air from the blower 64, thereby effectively drying the mold and removing all traces of coolant. The fourth indexing cycle brings the mold back into the pouring position and the entire cycle is repeated.

An important feature lies in the fact that the molds never leave the carrier throughout the cycle. Manual handling of the molds has been entirely eliminated, and a 'very high rate of casting production, made possible.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination of: a stationary frame, a carrier rotatcentral opening into which molten metal may the indexing arm 16. The carrier isthen latched in its new position, and the indexing arm 14 drops back to its retracted position.

Rotation of the carrier I!) through one quarter revolution occurs in the direction shown by the arrow 96 in Figure 2 and serves to advance each of the molds to a new position on the frame l6. The mold 22 is then positioned directly in advance of the stripping cylinder 56, and upon acuation of the switch 93 at the extreme limit of the upward stroke of the indexing rod 14 the stripping cylinder 56 projects its piston rod 58 and head 59 into the opening 39 and moves longibe poured into the other end of each mold, and a stripper mounted on the frame for reciprocating axial movement on an axis constituting a line element in a cylinder defined by rotation of the center lines of the molds about the axis of the carrier, the stripper having a head insertable into the first said end of each mold for ejecting a casting axially therefrom.

2. In a centrifugal casting machine the combination of: a stationary frame, a carrier rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of annular open-ended molds circumferentially spaced on said carrier, a stripper on the frame movable axially along an axis parallel to the axis of the carrier, bearings on said carrier engaging the outer surfaces of the molds between the ends thereof for supporting the molds for rotation about axes parallel to the carrier axis, said bearing means positioning the molds for sequential alignment with the stripper as the carrier is ,tumed on the frame, axially movable spinner combination of: a stationary frame, a carrier rotatably mounted on the frame, the carrier including a pair of radially extending axially spaced releasably engageable with disks connected for rotation as a unit, the disks having aligned apertures, a plurality of annular open-end molds circumferentially spaced on said carrier, bearings on said carrier for rotatably supporting the molds in alignment with the disk apertures for rotation about axes parallel to the carrier axis, said bearings comprisingrollers mounted onv the carrierdisks and engaging the outer surfaces of the molds between the ends thereof, axially movable spinner means on the frame releasably' engageable with one end of each mold to spin the mold, an element on the frame having a central opening .through which molten metal may be introduced into the other end of the mold, and a stripper mounted on the frame for reciprocating axialjmovement on an axis constituting a line element in a cylinder defined by rotation of the center lines of the molds about the axis of the carrier, the stripper having a head insertable through the apertures in one of the disks and into an end of each mold for ejecting a casting axiallyfrom the mold.

4. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination of: a stationary frame, a carrier rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of annular a line element in a cylinder defined by rotation of the center lines of the molds about the axis of the carrier, a spinner member rotatably mounted on the frame on the other side of the carrier in axial alignment with said annular thrust-receiving element, the spinner member having a head engageable axially with one end of each mold to form a driving connection and to form a closure for said end of the mold, a reciprocable element for moving the spinner member axially to clamp the ends of each mold sequentially between the head of the spinner member and said annular thrust-receiving element, the annular thrust-receiving element having a central opening through which molten metal may be introduced into the other end of the mold.

5. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination of: a stationary frame, a carrier rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of annular molds circumferentially spaced on said carrier, bearings on said carrier for rotatably supporting the molds for rotation about axes parallel to the carrier axis, said bearings comprising rollers mounted on the carri r and engaging the outer surfaces of the molds between the ends thereof, an annular thrust-receiving element positioned on one side of the carrier, bearing means on the frame rotatably supporting said element for rotation about an axis constituting a line element in a cvlinder d fined by rotation of the center lines of the molds about the axis of the carrier, a spinner member rotatably mounted on the frame on the other side of the carrier in axial alignment with said annular thrust-receiving element, the spinner member having a head engageable axially with one end of each mold to form a driving connection and to form a closure for .said end of the mold, a reciprocable element for moving the spinner member axially to clamp the ends of each mold sequentially between the head of the spinner member and said annular thrust-receiving element, the annular thrust-receiving element having a central opening through which molten metal may be introduced into the other end of the mold.

6. In a centrifugal casting machine, the combination of: a stationary frame, a carrier rotatably mounted on the frame, the carrier including a pair of radially extending axially spaced disks connected for rotation as a unit, the disks having aligned apertures, a plurality of annular molds circumferentially spaced on said carrier and each having an end projecting through the apertures in a first of the disks, bearings on said carrier for rotatably supporting the molds in 'alignment with the disk apertures for rotation about axes parallel to the carrier axis, said bearings comprising rollers mounted on the carrier disks and engaging the outer surfaces of the cylinder defined by rotation of the center lines of the molds about the axis of the carrier, a spinner member rotatably mounted on the frame adjacent the second of the disks in axial alignment with said annular thrust-receiving element,

the spinner member having -a head insertablethrough the apertures in the second disk, means for moving the spinner member axially into engagement with an end of each mold to form a driving connection and to-form a closure for said end of the mold, said means acting to clamp the 'ends of each.mo1d sequentially between the head of the spinner member and said annular. thr'ustreceiving .element,,the annular thrust-receiving element having a central opening through which molten metalmaybe introduced into the other end of the mold.

LESTER FRANK DALTON.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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Corbin Aug. 10, 1948 

